Sugarloaf Alliance
Preservation * Smarter Growth * Transparency in Government
Development near Sugarloaf (west of I-270 and north to the Monocacy River) should remain protected and free from commercial and industrial development. Check one
Agree
The area s one of Frederick County’s most valuable natural, agricultural, and scenic landscapes. Protecting it from commercial and industrial development preserves farmland, environmental resources, tourism, and our rural character. Growth should be directed to designated growth areas with existing infrastructure, while conservation efforts safeguard this unique region for future generations.
A Green Infrastructure Plan should be completed and adopted before approving major new industrial rezonings. Check one.
Agree
Understanding how development will affect forests, waterways, wildlife habitat, farmland, and other natural resources is essential to responsible planning. This approach ensures growth decisions are guided by sound environmental data, protects critical ecosystems, and helps balance economic development with long-term sustainability and quality of life.
If elected, do you pledge to never sign an NDA with a data center developer or other developer, nor to be bound by an NDA signed by another county official with a data center developer or any other developer? Check one.
Yes
I am committed to transparency and will not voluntarily sign NDAs with developers that limit the public’s ability to understand projects affecting our community. Residents deserve open government and meaningful access to information. While some matters may require confidentiality under existing laws, I will oppose unnecessary secrecy and support transparent decision-making. Development proposals, including data centers, should be evaluated through an open public process that promotes accountability and public trust
County legislation should be developed to prohibit County Council members, the County Executive, and county staff from signing any NDA that restricts their ability to inform the public, deliberate openly, or carry out their public duties. Check one.
Agree
County legislation should prohibit County Council members, the County Executive, and county staff from signing NDAs that restrict their ability to inform the public, deliberate openly, or fulfill their official responsibilities. Transparency is essential to good governance and public trust. Residents deserve open decision-making, particularly on issues with significant community impact. Any confidentiality requirements should be narrowly tailored, legally justified, and never used to shield policy discussions from public scrutiny.
Frederick County should fund a thorough, independent cost-benefit analysis of data center impacts, specifically on Frederick County, regardless of any analysis that may be conducted by the State of Maryland on State level impacts. Check one.
Agree
rederick County should fund an independent, comprehensive cost-benefit analysis focused specifically on local impacts before making long-term decisions about data center development. The study should evaluate fiscal effects, infrastructure demands, energy and water use, environmental impacts, public services, and quality of life considerations. County-specific data is essential to ensure decisions are informed, transparent, and aligned with the long-term interests of Frederick County residents.
How many data centers should be built in Frederick County? Check the answer closest to your position.
As many as allowed inside the original 1,586-acre Critical Digital Infrastructure Overlay Zone proposed by the Planning Commission.
Frederick County should not set an arbitrary number of data centers. Instead, approval should be based on whether proposed facilities align with the county’s land-use plans, infrastructure capacity, environmental protections, and community priorities. Before additional projects are approved, the county should fully understand their cumulative impacts on energy, water, transportation, public services, and quality of life. Growth should be deliberate, data-driven, and consistent with the long-term interests of Frederick County residents.
What new county data center legislation would you endorse? Check all you support.
Increased distances to residences and public uses, Stricter noise limits, Stricter water use limits, Stricter design, height, and screening limits, Efficiency and power consumption limits, Full disclosure of electricity consumption, water consumption, height and footprint, backup generation capacity, noise and lighting impacts, and infrastructure needs and requirements of proposed data centers., An independent, third-party regularly monitoring data center operation (e.g. noise, water consumption) that reports its results publicly, including additional testing triggered by resident complaints or changes in operations., Mandatory corrective actions within a defined timeframe, with meaningful penalties or operational restrictions if compliance is not achieved (if post-construction monitoring shows a data center exceeds approved limits).
I would need to see that any new proposals address most, if not all of these requirements before I would agree to it. Any new data center should meet strict standards for environmental protection, energy and water efficiency, noise control, traffic mitigation, and community compatibility. Projects must be appropriately located, avoid sensitive natural and agricultural areas, provide meaningful public engagement, and demonstrate clear benefits without imposing costs on taxpayers.
What are your thoughts concerning environmental issues, preservation, development, transparency in government, and data centers in Frederick County? Describe any priorities, tradeoffs, or concerns that guide your thinking.
My priorities are protecting Frederick County’s environmental resources, preserving farmland and open space, ensuring transparent government, and directing responsible growth to appropriate areas. I support development that strengthens our economy and tax base, but it must not come at the expense of our natural resources, rural character, or quality of life.
Data centers should be evaluated through a transparent, data-driven process that fully considers cumulative impacts on energy, water, infrastructure, public services, and nearby communities. Developers should bear the costs of necessary infrastructure improvements, not taxpayers. I support strong environmental standards, meaningful public engagement, and independent analysis of local impacts before major decisions are made. Growth and preservation are not mutually exclusive, but achieving both requires thoughtful planning, accountability, and a commitment to long-term sustainability.